Saturday, May 7, 2011

Pebble Beach Food and Wine Grand Tasting

There is nothing I'd rather do than spend an afternoon wandering around, eating, spotting celebrity chefs, and people watching. The only thing that'd make it more perfect would be if I were being fanned by palm fronds while sitting on some type of throne. But since I don't forsee that happening anytime soon, I'll have to settle for eating and ogling celebrity chefs.

Enter, the 4th Annual Pebble Beach Food and Wine Grand Tasting event, held at the glorious Pebble Beach golf course in Monterey, California. I was able to attend the event courtesy of FoodBuzz and my darling friend Lemons and Anchovies (who also did a fabulous write up of the event). L&A was kind enough to give me her extra ticket so I could bring the hubster to carry my big camera, leaving my hands free for stuffing my face.

There are so many blogger friends who have done a lovely, detailed account of the event. Me, I'll keep it more Letterman's top 10 style. So here we go:

10) While normally, I'd have some qualms eating something bumpy and tentacly, I gobbled two (okay, three) of Chef Morimoto's Angry Octopus with Pickled Radish and Meyer Lemon Mousse on Crispy Rice.

9) True skill is making something as fancy as Shank Terrine with Dungeness Crab and Umbria Lentils for the masses.

8) Don't ever turn down a brownie brown sugar parfait.

7) This is no ordinary scallop. Not when it's served with a Mango Dungeness Crab Ceviche and Blue Corn Crisp.

6) How awesome is it when celebrity chefs that you've watched on TV are fun people in real life?

5) When Chef Chris Cosentino serves beef heart and oyster tartare, you know the fabulous plating is just the start of the magic.

4) Why do berries taste so much better when served in fancy little cups?

3) Crab Beignet. Delicious. Want one now. That is all.

2) Never say no to seconds (or thirds!) of chocolate ice cream sprinkled with fancy sea salt. Calories don't count when eaten from such cute spoons!

1) When a fabulous chef creates something strange-sounding, eat it anyway. It may be the best thing you've ever had. And on that note, I'd like to introduce you to the Buttered Popcorn Bisque.

Awww, Morimoto looks so adorable and un-threatening! He's usually so scowly during Iron Chef. This looks so fun, and you captured it beautifully - especially those lovely rows of salt and ice cream. What a cool combo! Thanks for distracting me from my last law school outline ever. :-)

How fun! Totally amazing experience I'm sure. I've been wondering were you've been! ;) that's a great recap and fun pics, so glad you got to go. Keep a mom o' 4 in mind next time, I fit comfortably in over sized baggage.

That looks like it was so much fun! If you don't follow Anne Burrell on Twitter, you must do so as she's quite amusing on it--her preoccupation with getting patted down at airports is simultaneously hilarious and odd.

I'm green with envy :) Can't wait for our food tour! :) I love the pics, they are mouthwateringly beautiful! I had such a bad experience with Octopus, that I am always afraid to try it again... hmm gotta fix that. Morimoto's stuff looked divine! Loved this post!

Lucky!! Love your top ten recap. Great photos, esp. the one of Anne Burrell- and the crab beignet, drool! I totally have to put in for this next year - combine it with a visit to my college girl in Santa Cruz :)

Well hot diggy dog...you were smoozing with all the chefs... luck dawg you!! So happy to see a post update!!! I'm still trying to figure out what that saying on the t-shirt means... or maybe I've been in Tokyo for too long and forgot to speak, and write in English.

OMG It must have been such a treat to attend this event. The food looks so delectable and Morimoto looks really in a happy mood and so does "Spiky blond haired girl" from Secrets of a Restaurant Chef (sorry-I just don't remember her name)!! Cheers